The Mission
My life has been profoundly shaped by the environments I have stepped into. Decades after I first backpacked through Europe, I returned with a more somber purpose: to provide trauma counseling to refugees who had survived unspeakable horrors. While my initial focus was on those living within the camps, I was soon approached by the staff. These individuals, often acting as my translators, found themselves resonating with the trauma they were witnessing; they were buckling under the weight of "secondary trauma" without even realizing it.
I encountered this same phenomenon while working with the Romani population through The Smiles Foundation. Though their mission is centered on poverty relief and education, the staff and local organizers repeatedly requested counseling for themselves. It became clear that those providing the relief were in desperate need of a safe space to process the emotional toll of their own work.
By the time I began working with Courage House in Tanzania—a therapeutic home for young survivors of sex trafficking—my conviction had solidified: the most effective use of my expertise is to "hold up the arms" of those on the front lines. Secondary trauma, depression, and isolation are heavy realities for those serving underserved populations. Without intentional support, even the most dedicated individuals face inevitable burnout.
Seaside Chapel in Mytilene, Greece
These issues are equally prevalent across the mission field. Missionaries face unique stressors yet often lack access to appropriate counseling in the countries where they serve; for this reason, I maintain my counseling relationships with them long after I return home. As a wife and mother to pastors and first responders, I know this work is not for the faint of heart. It is imperative that we show tangible appreciation for these individuals by providing for their emotional health. I invest in these efforts because I believe in the possibility of a flourishing life for those courageous enough to seek help.
Malaga, Spain
Breaktime between conference sessions
Small-group discussions following presentations
Built in 1923 and recently restored, the Casa Diocesana de Espiritualidad has been described as a place to encounter God. It is a place of retreat where one has the opportunity to pray and contemplate God's greatness, and to experience spiritual renewal. It is no wonder that Communitas International selected this location to invite their missionaries for fellowship, inspiration and retreat. As part of Communitas' commitment to Staff care, I meet with numerous individuals to hear their stories and offer counseling. The concerns and challenges of those in the mission field vary greatly and I was honored to be used by God to encourage them along the way.
My call to Yabucoa, Puerto Rico came through the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology (GCAT). That region had recently experienced back-to-back hurricanes and a volunteer-based disaster relief organization called “All Hands & Hearts” was seeking training and treatment specific to the secondary trauma and compassion fatigue which was understandably prevalent among their volunteers and staff. Individuals with the heart and willingness to assist people in great need often don’t take into account the toll of continuously hearing stories of pain and loss expressed by those whose houses they are rebuilding. By coming alongside those volunteers the goal was to provide renewed strength and teach new tools with which to process their own emotions, thus enabling them to remain in the field assisting those impacted by the storms.
Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
All Hands & Hearts volunteer relief worker break area..
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Training Center where volunteers were taught recognition and skills for compassion fatigue.
Lesvos Island, Greece
Abandoned life jackets and other floating devices used by refugees to cross the Aegean Sea.
In many ways Lesvos Island, Greece (specifically Camp Moria) is the “Ellis Island” of Western Europe for processing the influx of refugees from the middle east. After horrific exploitation from “coyotes” falsely promising safe passage for exorbitant prices and traumatizing experiences along the way including loss of life, these refugees finally reach European soil. At that point they are devastated to find themselves detained in grossly inadequate encampments while awaiting processing and paperwork that can take up to two years to process! Through my role with Communitas International I worked at Camp Moria in the adjoining center where women and their children could spend their days free of the harassment and dangers found within the encampment. Challenges ran from addressing the trauma of their having lost loved ones in the journey, to tensions within the center as women from warring countries found themselves in close proximity to their enemies, yet united in common need.
“Courage Worldwide” has operated survivor/trauma-informed safe houses in Moshi, Tanzania since 2010. Through their awareness of Dr. Benjamin Keyes’ work (Exec.Dir. GCAT) he was invited to bring CTRS students fulfilling their certification requirements to address the traumas experienced by trafficked survivors living in their safe-house. Subsequently, I was given the opportunity to travel with them in a supervisory capacity. In addition to working directly with the Courage House population, there were several requests for specialized trainings throughout the region. These ranged greatly from missions organizations, medical schools, social agencies, seminaries and local schools to private audiences. It was a busy schedule with long hours, often involving two speaking/training engagements each day. The culmination of this trip was the opportunity to attend Tanzania’s recognition of the “World Day Against Trafficking in Persons”.
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Med School freshman class learning about the signs and long-term implications of trauma.
Staff and volunteers for Courage Worldwide, rescuing and restoring survivors of Human Trafficking
Cehei, Romania
Making house calls to support those who can’t travel to community centers for assistance.
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Group rooms in a mental health hospital were established for those whose families cannot care for them.
“The Smiles Foundation” is a growing Christian charity which serves the people of Romania in many capacities. CEO and Founder Kevin Hoy reached out to the Center for Trauma and Resiliency Studies (CTRS) to arrange for counseling for the Romani people as well as to provide education for local agencies on how to recognize and treat victims of trauma. Work with the Romani people focused on matters of domestic violence and the exploitation of children as shills or as child brides. Instruction was provided for those working with developmentally disabled populations, schools for autism, early childhood education centers and mental health facilities. Additionally, Q&A sessions were held with local mental health providers to address behaviors they were observing in their clients as the first post-war generation raised by parents who were themselves deeply impacted by war.
Inspired by communities of ecumenical Christian faith around Europe, Ray Davey founded The Corrymeela Community in 1965 as a way of building a more peaceful Northern Ireland. For nearly 60 years Corrymeela has celebrated numerous milestone events toward the furtherance of unity and peace across all factions. It was in this setting that Communitas International offered a Soul Care Retreat to their missionaries and teams as part of their commitment to caring for their people by providing opportunities for growth, introspection and rest. As part of their care, counseling and/or Spiritual Direction was offered to those who chose to avail themselves of it. I was honored to meet with several wonderful servants of Christ and am continuing to meet with some on a regular basis through online sessions.
Ballycastle, Ireland
Corrymeela Retreat Center: Met with missionaries at a Soul Care Retreat as part of their Staff, Care & Development Team
One of several spots for meditation between sessions.
Linlithgow, Scotland
Low Port Center multi-use community hub and hostel
St. John’s Church within the Low Port Center
Gatherings in Scotland are multi-faceted. There are two Communitas-affiliated churches in Edinburgh and one in Glasgow, all thriving and expanding their reach. One of the Edinburgh churches represents more traditional, community-driven ministry while the other is a street ministry which includes providing early morning coffee and biscuits to the homeless as they are released from the shelters with nowhere else to go. This trip also included a stay in the Low Port Center Hostel in Linlithgow, with the opportunity to work with a collaborative ministry of community and church. The center; a collective of like-minded charities and businesses which includes St. John’s Church, has experienced growth beyond their expectations as God knits this small community together under the common goal of improving the world around them. In contrast, there was also an opportunity to experience a silent retreat in the breathtaking sanctuary of St. Mary’s Cathedral, lead by Communitas’ Urban Monastics leadership. I was blessed not only to participate, but also to be available afterward as individuals processed the emotions and promptings evoked by such an experience. God is good!
Kenya is a study in potential. There are areas of great beauty and wealth, which one often finds in such a place, but there is also extreme poverty and need, and that is where you find God’s workers. Through the heart of Basecamp Missions in Tanzania to see God’s Word reach more people, a potential collaboration was explored with a struggling YWAM encampment in Likoni, Kenya. The passion of those missionaries to reach the lost was evident, even though the work was exhausting. The buildings and grounds were beautiful but were badly in need of repair. With a high population of Muslims in the region, community involvement is limited and keeps the number of volunteers low. The need for God’s presence here is evident, and certainly worthy of our prayers and support.
Mombasa, Kenya
Dining area on YWAM campus
Kitchen for YWAM volunteers
Istanbul, Turkey
Students wearing hijabs out of cultural respect
“The Beautiful Gate” originally located in Tarsus during Apostle Paul’s life.
Istanbul is, in itself, a story. As the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque dominate the city, they reflect centuries of religious struggle. As one example, over the past 1500 years Hagia Sophia was originally a Byzantine Orthodox Cathedral, then became a Catholic Cathedral before reverting back to Orthodox years later. It then became a mosque during the Ottoman era, then was turned into a museum and most recently (2020) back to a mosque again! As I supervised graduate students from CTRS in DC who were learning to treat emotional trauma, lessons were learned in cultural sensitivity, respect for foreign government, and safety vs. adventure, in addition to their coursework. Istanbul is known as the “crossroads of the world” for it’s physical location across both the European and Asian continents as well as it’s being a spiritual crossroads of major religions and empires. It’s humbling to realize that our great God has been witness to it all and still calls us to serve and to be His hands and feet, however measured and cautious we may need to be.